U.S. military forces conducted a successful maritime interdiction and boarding of the M/T Majestic X, a sanctioned tanker transporting Iranian crude oil, in the Indian Ocean early Thursday.
The Department of Defense announced the operation, stating that U.S. forces carried out a “right-of-visit” boarding of the vessel within the Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) area of responsibility. The boarding was completed without incident, and footage released by the Pentagon shows American troops on the deck of the tanker.
Vessel Details
- The M/T Majestic X (previously known as Phoenix) is a Guyana-flagged tanker that had been sanctioned by the U.S.
- Treasury Department since 2024 for its involvement in smuggling Iranian oil in violation of U.S. sanctions.
- It was described in official statements as a “sanctioned stateless vessel” despite holding a flag of convenience.
- Ship-tracking data placed the tanker in the Indian Ocean between Sri Lanka and Indonesia at the time of interception, the same general area where another Iran-linked tanker, the M/T Tifani, was seized earlier this week.
U.S. Statement
The Pentagon said:“Overnight, U.S. forces carried out a maritime interdiction and right-of-visit boarding of the sanctioned stateless vessel M/T Majestic X transporting oil from Iran… We will continue global maritime enforcement to disrupt illicit networks and interdict vessels providing material support to Iran, wherever they operate. International waters are not a refuge for sanctioned vessels.”
